Everything in your home is dependent on the house framing. Everything. Without the frame there are no walls to protect you from the elements, no floors on which to place furniture, no roof to keep out the rain and snow. Getting the framing right on your new home or home additions is as important as laying a strong foundation. If it’s not done right you may be sitting in the kitchen one morning several years later and suddenly notice your prized marble countertop is no longer level, or that the wall and ceiling are separating above the sofa. If you don’t want that to happen, listen up.

House Framing Essentials

Though framing materials and techniques have changed, the need for a rock solid frame underlying your home has not. With that in mind here are 7 things we believe to be crucial to the successful completion of any framing project.

A General Contractor – On any building or renovation project scheduled to last more than a week or require multiple trades you need a general contractor. It might be tempting to think you can handle it yourself but it’s rarely the wise thing to do.

A Contract with Teeth – Before a single nail is fired from the nail gun make sure your contract with the framer specifies both start and completion dates. Make sure there are penalties that kick in if the completion date is missed and don’t pay the framer until the work is complete.

A Review of the Plan – If your plan entails features unique to your house you’ll want to sit down with the GC and the framing contractor before work begins to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Securing the Jobsite – It’s an unfortunate reality that building materials sometimes disappear from construction sites. Make sure the GC has taken measures to properly secure the site and that financial responsibility for lost material is covered in the contract.

Staying Alert – If you see things being framed out that just don’t look right, ask about them. Even if you reviewed everything before work started mistakes can still be made.

An Understanding of the Inspector’s Job – The building inspector is not there to put his or her stamp of approval on the quality of the framer’s work any more than the excavation contractor is. They’re there to check for code violations. Don’t count on them for quality assurance.

Beware of the Plumber – Or the electrician, or any other subcontractor who feels they have a right to hack up the house framing without clearing it first. Sometimes they’re just taking a shortcut through your home’s integrity so they can finish up early. If you see someone going to town on the framing call the GC.

The life of your home, and by extension the safety and happiness of yourself and your loved ones, depends on proper house framing. If corners are cut, design elements are missed or finished work is compromised by overzealous subcontractors you could wind up facing an expensive and time consuming redo. Follow these steps to help ensure your house framing stands the test of time.

Integrity Contracting is known for quality work, honesty and professional results that increase value to our customer’s properties. We know we can provide you with answers and solutions to your projects needs; we are qualified, licensed professionals – proven & trustworthy – who always deliver projects on time and on budget. We specialize in Home Additions, Framing, Basement Underpinning, Demolition and Excavation in Toronto. Visit us on Google+.

Constructing your own custom home or building a home addition are stressful—and exciting—projects for any homeowner. It’s difficult, if not downright impossible, to complete such a large project without the help of a professional. The question is: Which professionals do you need to hire for your home improvement project? Although many homeowners are not familiar with framing contractors, they are imperative to the success of your new home or home addition.

What is a Framing Contractor?

Unlike general contractors, who oversee the entire construction process from pipes to wires and materials, and custom home contractors, who specialize in custom homes, framing contractors focus on the, well, frame of your home or business. Framing contractors understand how buildings fit together and how they interact with the environment around them. They are essential to marrying your vision with physics to make your dream home or commercial building become a reality.

Five Reasons to Hire a Framing Contractor for Your Home Improvement Project

Frames are Not Something You Want to Mess Up – Frames are perhaps the most important part of your building. They provide its structure and set the tone for its design. If the frame is off, the whole building is off as well.

It Takes an Army to Build a Frame – Unlike some DIY remodelling jobs, framing requires a whole team of talented construction workers to execute correctly. Framing contractors know the best people in the industry who will show up to work on time and get the job done right with minimal disruption.

Framing is a Complicated Business – It takes framing contractors years working in the construction business before they’re ready to manage their own projects. They have to know about everything from subflooring to roof structure, floor systems to walls, and exterior house boxing as well as the best materials, the best methods of installation, the most advanced technology, and what to do if something unexpected turns up in the process.

Budgets, Permits and Paperwork, Oh My! – Most homeowners don’t spend their limited and precious downtime writing out schedules and crunching numbers for fun. Nor do they have extensive knowledge of their area’s codes and regulations. After all, they have a life and their own jobs to do. Luckily, framing contractors make it their job to know all of these things. They handle the building permits, they understand the regulations, and they’ll take care of the paperwork for you, making sure the project stays on schedule and on budget.

Construction Sites are Stressful – When you’re away from your home, which you are most of the day, it just feels better to leave someone in charge whom you can trust. Framing contractors excel at multitasking—managing conflicts, problems, and disruptions as they occur. They look after your home so that you can go on with your daily life.

Looking for a reliable framing contractor in the Toronto area? Contact Integrity Home Additions for the best service and highest-quality framing professionals in the Toronto area.

Deciding to build your own home from the ground up can be exciting and daunting all at once. It is a huge investment, and you know it needs to be done right. Besides the contractor who will build the foundation of your house, the framing contractor that you end up hiring is perhaps the most important person who will work on your house. Framing contractors are responsible for building the structure of the house, and their work needs to be accurate, leveled, and true. The quality of their work will impact the overall quality of your home.

At Integrity Contracting we provide a comprehensive range of services, which include everything from framing to architectural design to tiling and carpentry work. Our framing package is in fact done not just by any framing contractor, but by the experienced owner of Integrity Contracting, Daniel Vaqueiro. While you can contact us for a consultation at any time, you should also know the most important questions to ask other framing contractors when you are considering them for the job.

Are you licensed and insured? In order to protect yourself and your investment, you need to make sure that your contractor has a license to operate in your state or region. If the potential contractor is also accredited by a reputable professional organization, that should be a further sign of their expertise and reliability. Checking that their company is insured will also ensure that you will not be liable should a worker get injured on the job site.

How long have you been in the business? Find out how much and exactly what kind of experience your potential framing contractors have. Framing is a trade that can be learned on the job, but you want to make sure that your contractor has sufficient formal training and all the necessary skills and experience.

Can you show me similar projects that you have worked on? If they cannot, or are unwilling to provide examples of previous projects, then this is a sure sign that you should be scouting around for a more trustworthy framing contractor!

Can you provide me with a fixed start and completion date? Having a timeline is important. Experienced framing contractors should be able to give you a decent estimate of how much time they will need to complete the work on your house.

Will you be working on the project yourself, and/or supervising at all times? Sometimes framing contractors might use subcontractors, or have all the physical labor done by a team of workers. Will there be a reliable supervisor present at all times? Is the contractor’s team skilled and efficient? Are the subcontractors trusted colleagues of your main contractor?

Can I get that in writing? Ask for an itemized estimate for the entire project. Cost of labor, materials and other costs all need to be accounted for. Compare the estimates you receive; a lower-than-average estimate could be a signal for cutting corners or hasty work, while discrepancies in the prices of materials are often signs of untrustworthy and unprofessional framing contractors.

Use these questions and tips to your advantage, and you will be on your way to finding a solid framing contractor that you can trust.